Azmin praises Amirudin for ‘good job’ in helming Selangor

International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali may no longer be in the same party with his protege Amirudin Shari, but he was all praises for the Selangor menteri besar during an official event in the state today.

Azmin, who was Selangor menteri besar himself before handing over the position to Amirudin in 2018, said the latter has been doing a good job in leading the state administration.

"I am happy because Amirudin and his team have continued the 'Peduli Rakyat' policy and gave his focus on the development of the state and its economy and I believe such efforts must be given support.

"This is why the federal government would continue to work together with the Selangor state government to ensure that the people and state continue to prosper," he told reporters after chairing the Selangor Development Action Council meeting in Shah Alam.

This was the first official meeting between the federal government and state government that involved Azmin and Amirudin since the former defected from PKR four months ago.

Azmin has always been deemed as Amirudin's mentor in the party. Amirudin was also a state executive councillor when Azmin was the menteri besar and it was widely speculated that he was handpicked by Azmin to be the latter's successor after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election in May 2018.

In February, Azmin and 10 other PKR MPs defected to Bersatu, which later formed another coalition with Umno and PAS. This had led to the fall of Harapan as a federal government.

However, Selangor remained as a Harapan state, and Amirudin stayed on in PKR thus keeping his position as the menteri besar.

In his speech at the meeting, Azmin also mentioned that Amirudin had called him last night to invite him to the discussion and thanked the menteri besar for the gesture.

To another question by reporters this evening, Azmin said the Selangor state administration has a strong team under Amirudin.

"Now I am representing the federal government, I have to look after all 14 states in Malaysia.

"But certainly, Selangor is dear to me, very close to my heart and I am glad that we have a strong team in Selangor under the leadership of Amirudin and we should work together," he said when asked if there would be any preferential treatment to Selangor since he used to helm the state.

Meanwhile, Azmin, who was appointed as the council's chairperson in April, said today's meeting was focused on several infrastructure projects in the state that needed immediate attention.

He also gave an assurance that the federal government would not sideline states that are under the opposition in terms of economy and development.

This was crucial especially as the country is fighting the effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

"I think we must put aside politics. I think this is the time where the federal government and state governments must work together to overcome the challenges we faced during MCO and due to Covid-19.

"It is crucial that we work together, and I think as I mentioned earlier, Selangor is a very important state for us.

"They had been contributing more than 23 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product and we want to ensure there will be no disruption in terms of development and the economic growth in Selangor."

Amirudin when asked for his comments on working together with the Perikatan Nasional federal government said the meeting was proof that they could continue to cooperate professionally above all political differences.

"I have mentioned many times before that now is the time for us to focus. Which one we have to focus on? Of course, we have to focus on economic recovery.

"And on the other things, we have to think how and when the time comes," he said.

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